Go Back

Easy Restaurant Style Salsa

A fresh, flavorful salsa made in minutes with canned tomatoes, Rotel, cilantro, and lime. Just like your favorite Mexican restaurant!
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 5 minutes
Chill Time 1 hour
Total Time 1 hour 5 minutes
Servings: 3
Course: Dip, Sauce
Cuisine: Mexican
Ingredients Method

Ingredients
  

  • 1 14.5-ounce can whole peeled plum tomatoes, undrained
  • 1 10-ounce can Rotel (diced tomatoes with green chilies)
  • ¼ cup yellow onion roughly diced
  • 1 jalapeño pepper seeded and finely chopped
  • 1 garlic clove peeled
  • ¼ to ½ cup fresh cilantro leaves and tender stems optional, adjust to taste
  • ¼ teaspoon ground cumin
  • ½ to 1 tablespoon fresh lime juice adjust to taste
  • ¼ teaspoon kosher salt
  • ¼ teaspoon granulated sugar to balance acidity

Method
 

Combine the Ingredients
  1. In a blender or food processor, add the canned plum tomatoes (with their juice), Rotel, diced onion, jalapeño, garlic, cilantro, cumin, lime juice, salt, and sugar.
Blend to Desired Consistency
  1. Pulse in short bursts until the salsa reaches your preferred texture—chunky, smooth, or somewhere in between. Scrape down the sides as needed for even blending.
Taste and Adjust
  1. Use a tortilla chip for taste-testing—it gives the most accurate flavor check. Add more lime juice for brightness, extra salt for balance, or a touch more sugar if too acidic.
Chill Before Serving
  1. Transfer to a bowl, cover, and refrigerate for at least 1 hour to let the flavors meld. Serve chilled with chips or as a topping for your favorite dishes.